Donation to promote Nicholls Online

Published: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.

Nicholls State University has received a $27,000 donation from the Peltier Foundation to promote and expand enrollment in online classes.

Nicholls Online, which launched in January, is a distance learning program that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees completely online, said Lori Soule, co-coordinator of distance education.

When the program started, it didn’t have a strong marketing campaign, Soule said.

“It was nothing but grassroots and word-of-mouth,” she said, adding that the university also mailed postcards to its former students and gave presentations at community events. “We expect it to grow leaps and bounds.”

With the Peltier Foundation’s support, she said, Nicholls will be able to expand its recruiting outreach and launch a comprehensive marketing campaign, including website upgrades, billboards, Internet ads, postcards, promotional items and a commercial.

The campus staff will also begin hosting public information sessions about the program throughout the region.

In its first term, 130 chairs were taken, Soule said. Now in its fourth term, that number has increased to 254. She said that count includes students who are taking more than one class.

Allayne “Laynie” Barrilleaux, vice president for Academic Affairs, said without much marketing, Nicholls Online saw early success.

“With the rollout of our marketing campaign, we hope to further expand the Nicholls Online program and consequently help more people in the Bayou Region and beyond earn a degree,” Barrilleaux said.

Nicholls Online allows students to complete their degree program in as few as three years, as classes are offered in eight-week blocks rather than semesters, said Larry Howell, interim president and executive vice president and provost.

The program uses a mix of video lectures, slide shows and assigned readings, and students communicate with instructors and classmates using discussion boards, emails and chats.

Bachelor’s degrees are available in history, English, sociology, interdisciplinary studies, general family and consumer sciences, and nursing for students who have an encumbered registered nurse license. A master’s degree is available in educational leadership, and a certificate is available in the Louisiana Early Education Program.

<p>Nicholls State University has received a $27,000 donation from the Peltier Foundation to promote and expand enrollment in online classes.</p><p>Nicholls Online, which launched in January, is a distance learning program that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees completely online, said Lori Soule, co-coordinator of distance education. </p><p>When the program started, it didn't have a strong marketing campaign, Soule said.</p><p>“It was nothing but grassroots and word-of-mouth,” she said, adding that the university also mailed postcards to its former students and gave presentations at community events. “We expect it to grow leaps and bounds.”</p><p>With the Peltier Foundation's support, she said, Nicholls will be able to expand its recruiting outreach and launch a comprehensive marketing campaign, including website upgrades, billboards, Internet ads, postcards, promotional items and a commercial. </p><p>The campus staff will also begin hosting public information sessions about the program throughout the region.</p><p>In its first term, 130 chairs were taken, Soule said. Now in its fourth term, that number has increased to 254. She said that count includes students who are taking more than one class.</p><p>Allayne “Laynie” Barrilleaux, vice president for Academic Affairs, said without much marketing, Nicholls Online saw early success.</p><p>“With the rollout of our marketing campaign, we hope to further expand the Nicholls Online program and consequently help more people in the Bayou Region and beyond earn a degree,” Barrilleaux said.</p><p>Nicholls Online allows students to complete their degree program in as few as three years, as classes are offered in eight-week blocks rather than semesters, said Larry Howell, interim president and executive vice president and provost.</p><p>The program uses a mix of video lectures, slide shows and assigned readings, and students communicate with instructors and classmates using discussion boards, emails and chats.</p><p>Bachelor's degrees are available in history, English, sociology, interdisciplinary studies, general family and consumer sciences, and nursing for students who have an encumbered registered nurse license. A master's degree is available in educational leadership, and a certificate is available in the Louisiana Early Education Program.</p><p>Undergraduate classes cost $250 per credit hour; the master's program costs $350 per credit hour.</p><p>“As far as the degrees, we will be expanding offerings,” Soule said. “We have plans for 2014.”</p><p>Among those plans is a new bachelor's degree for business administration, coming in fall 2014.</p>